THE BUDGET

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 11592, 19 August 1931, Page 5

THE BUDGET

LABORITE’S COMPLAINT

“HIT OR MISS” BUDGET

COST OF LIVING WILL BEj INCREASED

(Press Association)

; 'WELLINGTON, Ante. 18. In the House of Representatives, resuming the financial debate, Mr Carr (L.) commented on the length of. the debate, and said it appeared that the Government wtas going to be flogged for the mistakes of the past, and iat the same time given plenty of time to make more. The Budget • was -a “hit or miss” or 1 ‘ciatch-a.Geatch-can ’’ Budget. The,, proposals in the Budget would increase the cost of living, and the working classes would be called upon to pay. It remained to bo seen if the Reform party would form a dehth pact with the Government. He LcJrsonally hoped the party wouid act according to the indications given by some of its back benchers.

UNITED MEMBER WANTS PETROL TAX INCREASED.

Mr- McDougall (U.) urged the Government to increase the petrol tax with the object of giving relief to country ratepayers. He criticised the Reform Government’s land policy, contending that a majority of the difficulties of the settlers to-day were duo to the prices at which land had been bought by that Administration. He considered that a. reduction in rents and interest rates was necessary for the recovery of economic conditions.

REFORMER WILL VOTE AGAINST INCREASE IN PRIMAGE.

Mr. Kylo (R.) indicated that lie would vote against the primage duty, because 1 of its tendency to increase the cost of living. He said that he voted against the Reform party on increased taxation in 1928. He strongly urged the imposition of a dumping duty on all Australian goods at present entering New Zealand with the advantage of the 18£ per cent, exchange rate. Mr. Kyle held that this money was at present going into the pockets of importers arid was not being passed on to the consumer. Mr. Chapman (L.) urged the development of New Zealand’s secondary industries with the object of lessening the Dominion’s dependency on overseas markets. He contended that private enterprise. had failed to solve the unemployment problem and the Government would have to take over the duty of providing work.

MR CLINKARD SUPPORTS NAPIER-GISBORNE LINE.

Mr. Clinkard (U.) expressed the opinion that there had. been extravagant .spending during the period ol high prices and the Government had now no alternative but to economise. He believed the only railway lines which should be constructed were main lines such as the South Island main trunk and the Napier-Gisborne The debate was interrupted by the rising of the House at 10.30 p.m.